Nanocomposites of PCL and SBA-15 Particles Prepared by Extrusion: Structural Characteristics, Confinement of PCL Chains within SBA-15 Nanometric Channels and Mechanical Behavior

Abstract

A study of different nanocomposites based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and mesoporous SBA-15 silica that were prepared by melt extrusion was carried out by analyzing the possible effect of this filler on the crystalline details of PCL, on its mechanical behavior, and on the eventual observation of the confinement of the polymeric chains within the hollow nanometric silica channels. Thus, simultaneous Small-Angle and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS/WAXS) synchrotron experiments at variable temperature were performed on these PCL nanocomposites with different mesoporous silica contents. The importance of the morphological and structural features was assessed by the changes that were observed during the mechanical response of the final materials, which determined that the presence of mesoporous particles leads to a noticeable reinforcing effect.

Low-Density Polyethylene-Based Novel Active Packaging Film for Food Shelf-Life Extension via Thyme-Oil Control Release from SBA-15 Nanocarrier

“…As is observed from the calculated water vapor diffusion coefficient (D wv ) and the oxygen permeability (P O2 ) values listed in Table 2 both pure SBA-15 and modified TEO@SBA-15 nanofillers achieved to increase both the water and oxygen barrier of obtained films. According to the literature when such SBA-15 nanofiller is dispersed in a polymer media hexagonal arrays of cylindrical mesopores parallel to the polymer substrate are obtained with a (h00) preferred orientation [ 52 , 53 , 54 ]. In addition, as was shown in the SEM images section both pure SBA-15 and modified TEO@SBA-15 nanofillers dispersed homogeneously in the LDPE matrix and thus succeeded in reducing the free volume available for the water/oxygen molecules permeation [ 55 ].…”

Special Issue: Synthesis, Processing, Structure and Properties of Polymer Materials

“…In this Special Issue, 33 original articles have been published on various topics, including the preparation, characterization, and some examples of application of polymeric materials. This issue includes review articles [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ] and research articles [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ].…”

“…The scope of research articles of papers included a Special Issue is very wide. It includes papers on the synthesis and study of the properties of new thermoplastic polymers [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ], obtaining of composites [ 14 , 15 , 16 ], nanocomposites [ 17 , 18 , 19 ], microspheres [ 20 , 21 ], polymeric blends [ 22 , 23 , 24 ], hydrophobic nanostructures [ 25 ], polymeric membranes [ 26 , 27 ], hydrogels [ 28 ] and others [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ].…”

“…Díez-Rodríguez et al [ 17 ] obtained poly(ε-caprolactone) composites with mesoporous SBA-15 nanosilica by extrusion. They studied the effect of the filler on the morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of the obtained compositions.…”

Gamma radiation effect on the chemical, mechanical and thermal properties of PCL/MCM-48-PVA nanocomposite films

“…Augustine et al obtained better tensile properties, antimicrobial properties, and fibroblast proliferation for PCL membranes with ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONPs) via electrospinning [ 21 ]. Díez-Rodrígues et al prepared NCs based on PCL by melt extrusion with SBA-15 mesoporous silica that exhibited satisfactory tensile properties compared to PCL [ 22 ]. Elen et al, using a melt-blending technique, prepared NCs of PCL with different morphologies of ZnO for use in food packaging.…”